Rumours of female moderator unfounded

The Church of Scotland maintained more than 300 years of tradition yesterday by once again failing to elect a woman as the next Moderator of the General Assembly.

The Rev Prof Iain Torrance, 53, was elected moderator designate despite predictions that the Kirk might finally elect a female minister to its highest post.

He defeated the Rev Margaret Forrester, 64, who was nominated for the third time. She blessed a lesbian wedding ten years ago and was thought by some church conservatives to be too liberal.

However, the failure to elect a woman is certain to prompt further complaints of inequality for women ministers. The first female minister was ordained in 1968, and 17 per cent of the ministry are female. There were only nine women on the 62-member committee that made the decision in Edinburgh yesterday.

Prof Torrance, dean of the faculty of arts and divinity at Aberdeen University and master of Christ's College, Aberdeen, is the son of a former moderator. Last year he became chaplain to the Queen in Scotland.